Here is your chance to be paid for doing what you love! The position of Assistant Curator for the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection of Australia at the National Arboretum Canberra has become available.

Details: Assistant Curator – National Bonsai and Penjing Collection of Australia (NBPCA), National Arboretum Canberra (NAC). The Arboretum is seeking an experienced professional with a solid work ethic committed to high quality service delivery in our bonsai and penjing collection. The position requires a high level of competence in the maintenance and display of high quality bonsai and penjing. The position requires the person to work independently under limited supervision, have good time management and to exercise sound judgement. The individual will be required to work as part of a large and diverse team of both employees and volunteers. The position is located at the Arboretum and is managed by the Curator - NBPCA.

Note: Applications must address the selection criteria and demonstrate their competency to deliver the full duties of the position at the level in accordance with relevant work competency standards. One of your referees must be your current immediate supervisor.

Applicants should note that a Joint Selection Committee (JSC) established in accordance with the collective/enterprise agreement provisions will assess all applications for this position.

Please visit the following link for documents and application coversheet.

I think that is really wrong requirement, Many people do not want to advertise to the current employer that they are looking to move!( and yes others may be happy to do so to keep the boss on the ball).

good luck to any and all that are wanting to apply. Wish it was me Ken

The current position of Assistant Curator was a non permanent, fixed term, part time contract that has concluded. It was just 3 days with the bonsai on average and a day as Duty Manager in the visitors centre plus some OH&S duties.

This is a new full time, permanent job being offered(after many years of urging) and as such is open to all comers. I will not be applying.

Good luck to Shannon and all those that apply. The NBPCA will be much richer for this position an as such a large number of applicants is welcome.

The NBPCA is an absolute smash hit with thousands of visitors each week and recognised now by the ACT Government as an absolute crucial part of the Arboretum and tourism for Canberra.

As a serial lender of my bonsai to the NBPCA since it inception and being very happy with the professional way my trees have been cared for by Shannon as well as the Volunteers I would be very sceptical should he not be confirmed in the new position (if he applies) and be running a careful measure over any other choice.

Good luck to Shannon and all those that apply. The NBPCA will be much richer for this position and as such a large number of applicants is welcome.(..........)Grant Bowie

Hear, Hear! With all due respect (and that's quite a lot), ric, some things I don't need to remind you of, but will anyway:There are quite a number of gifted and highly experienced bonsai growers-stylists in Australia. Just look at the list of accredited bonsai demonstrators on the website of the AABC: http://www.aabcltd.org/site-search/?Keywords=demonstrators&SearchStart=1&homesearchformsubmit.x=0&homesearchformsubmit.y=0So?Probably not all of them might be considered suitable for the position of Assistant Curator NBPCA and certainly not all would wish to apply, but should we not welcome those who do? Should we not respect those who are proposing to commit their best efforts to the advancement and maintenance of this national Association, under the guidance of a Curator who has successfully done the same for a number of years now? Just rhetorical questions, of course. Good luck to the courageous bonsai-ists who apply, Shannon included of course!Just remember, people from pampered regions, that during Winter mornings you start work in freezing conditions, often literally. Global warming is not expected to bring up Canberra Winter temps.markedly within the near future.